Textile Arts Center New York

Sometimes I wish I could just snap my fingers and be in say NY. The wonderful-sounding Textile Arts Center, where I was in Joetta Maue's group show "From the Tongue" earlier this year, is currently indulging in an interactive knitting show Virgin Knitters, with Kimberly Hall.

It's Brooklyn based and booming and is even taking applications for studio rentals - now that's something I would dive for if I lived in NY and was not having a baby right now on the other side of the Atlantic!

Textile Arts Center
505 Carroll Street
Brooklyn (Park Slope), 11215 NY

Tel: +718 - 369 0222

paper delights and fruit

I have just been out in the deep snow (well, at least 10cm or more) for a photography wander around our local church place... and finally I had time to enter a boutique which I have looked at longingly many times on my way somewhere.

It's a beautiful paper & bookbinding atelier, called Atelier Tiemeyer, run by Ria Tiemeyer, pictured. It is full of temptations to woo the paperlover and booklover. Her hand screen-printed paper envelopes, wrapping papers and books are divine.

I also fell for the work of artist Miriam Schmid, who makes beautiful paper fruit in a basket...

Pariser Strasse 15
10719 Berlin-Wilmersdorf
Mon-Fri 10 - 18.30
Sat 11-14

a new mask

Thomas bought me this beautiful mask the other night from the wonderful fetish store Boutique Hautnah, at Uhlandstrasse 170, where I've been looking for pieces to complete an outfit for a performance.

I can feel new artwork coming on...

Knopf & Schnalle

Also in my neighbourhood is Knopf & Schnalle, literally Button & Buckle, a sewing accessories shop that has been in business for 44 years, under the ownership of Monika Schönfelder.

She has a very good selection of buttons, threads and various other applications for sewing. Her tiny shop is orderly and fitted with original wooden Güttermann thread dispensers which made my heart swoon!

Great for the last minute button need as I am making baby clothes for friends at the moment...

Uhlandstrasse 56,
10719 Berlin
tel/fax: 030 883 8473

Mon-Fri 9 - 18 Uhr
Sat 10 - 14 Uhr

Tutti Klamotti

Goodness, I'm down to one post a month! Sorry, being pregnant and busy with little jobs for friends is taking up all my time.

I found a couple of days ago, just around the corner from home, what expectant mothers like me need: Tutti Klamotti, a 2nd hand baby shop with everything! All is in good condition and though not dirt cheap, I like the idea of recycling and reusing things... there's so much waste in the world.

So, I found some English books for our little one and a cute tee.

Emser Strasse 46,
10719 Berlin Wilmersdorf
030 - 50 36 59 24
Mon - Fri 10 - 19 Uhr

Kenny Muhammed

At the moment I have the incredible fortune to be in Cartagena Spain, in the Murcia region where my husband is working. And it so happens there is the fascinating Manifesta 8 contemporary European art biennale on here since yesterday!

I visited one of the Murcia venues yesterday, an old derelict post office in the centre of the elegant, slightly crumbling city, and was particularly taken by a video work featuring beatboxer Kenny Muhammed, born NY in 1968. He musically interpreted the prayers of several artists for their work in the future and Kenny had me riveted. He made every sound of what sounded like 6 simultaneous tracks!! 

I had the most beautiful moment afterwards, wandering the streets, when I ran into him, stopped him to check it was him, and yes it was. A charming man of huge talent. Check him out. He has an album coming out soon and I will be dancing with my pregnant belly to it in the coming months!

Deborah Paauwe

So I am back from our wonderful motorbiking honeymoon to the mountains of the Süd Tirol region. There are a few things to blog about from the trip but I suddenly had an urge to look at the work of USA born but longtime Australian resident Deborah Paauwe. She is a photographer of sumptuous, tender, erotic femaleness/femininity, mostly through cropped close-ups of body, textiles and dress... just up my alley. Fashion and photography rolled into one...

Birdy friends in the heart of Berlin

My husband and I discovered quite by accident a beautiful outdoor aviary near Zoo Station in Berlin. It houses wonderful colourful, much missed by me, Aussie King Parrots and Lorikeets and other parrot family members from South America also. It was such a delicious surprise and makes my heart sing to visit them when I need a dose of Australia!

To find it, go through the Post Office at Zoo and then walk out into the square of a modern building that sits behind the street. There you will probably hear the parrots shrieking joyously.

Literaturhaus Berlin

Also in one of the more elegant streets of our new area is Berlin's Literaturhaus - where you can hear writers reading their work, attend literary symposiums and exhibitions. The historically listed villa was built in 1889 for Richard Hildebrandt, and saved from demolition by citizens' action. The grounds, which are used for the attached café, are very gracious - there's a majestic tree in the garden which was beautifully lit at night, when we discovered this tranquil retreat. It's next to the Käthe Kollwitz museum, also on Fasanenstraße.

Puppen & Teddy Klinik

In my new neighbourhood there is a charming little Rosy's Puppen & Teddyklinik (Doll and Teddybear hospital), the loving creation of Rosy Blanke, which has been here for 20 years. I love that places like this still exist. If your old teddy's stuffing is bursting out, he can be stitched up and if your china doll's bits break, you can take her in for a new arm or leg, for example. Old West Berlin treasure!

Uhlandstraße 148
10719 Berlin-Wilmersdorf
030 873 6004

Tues - Fri 11.00 - 18.00

Australian Icons

So I'm not the only Aussie in Düsseldorfer Straße! In the next block is the shop Australian Icons, devoted to clever, beautiful design from Australia. Delights including Third Drawer Down tea-towels and pillowslips, recyclable shopping bags, Robert Foster's elegant designs and nifty and lovely Zaishu chairs/tables, amongst many.

I was thrilled to learn that I'm right next door, for those homesick moments...

Düsseldorfer Straße 76
10719 Berlin
030 8639 3668

The Tiger with Play2C

At the moment I am doing the costume design for Play2C's new English language theatre production of the short, funny piece called The Tiger, by Murray Schisgal, directed by Ali von Stein. I'm madly sewing away for the Long Island housewife character Gloria (played by Khema de Silva), who is kidnapped by Ben (Stu Alexander), postman and philosopher and taken to his dingy New York basement where surprising things happen...!

Our production opens next Thursday night 29th July and runs for three nights at Play2C studio, starting at 8pm. It will return in the autumn for a second run.

Please come along if you live in Berlin. It's a part of the new series 'A Play and A Drink'. Will be fun! Special thanks to Flavia Scuderi for her graphic design.

Play2C Studio
Schlesische Strasse 38
2 Hof, 1 O.G.
10997 Berlin

Das Neue Schwarz

My lovely friend David Ramirez and one of his business partners Tanya Bednar, run the chic and oh so stylish underground boutique Das Neue Schwarz (the new black), for vintage designer clothing, accessories, books, collectibles for the home and jewellery. It's on the very hip Mulackstrasse in Berlin Mitte and is a must-see on this strip of all that's hot in fashion and style. Check out the online shop if you're not Berlin-based and you can still enjoy the yummyness.

Mulackstrasse 32, 10119 Berlin-Mitte
0177 138 97 88

Daruma

Daruma is a cute, very authentic Japanese restaurant and small grocery store, and it's just around the corner from my new home! Here you can eat delicious traditional Japanese food, and stock up on little trinkets, food, and Sake etc. from the "laden". The special feature here is that the rice used in the restaurant is imported from Japan for the most authentic taste, despite our Berlin water.

The kitchen is open until 19.30 in the evenings so make sure you get there for lunch or an early dinner! They also do catering.

Daruma
Uhlandstrasse 61, 10719 Berlin
030 8736 131

Winterfeldt Schokoladen

You'd think with all these scrumptious cake shops and chocolate shops (such as this one near Winterfeldt Platz), that I must be turning into an elephant! I just can't resist a little treat sometimes when I pass by on my bike and this beautifully decorated Retro-style café & chocolate shop was a lovely recent discovery.

Looks like a cosy place to hang out in winter too...

Niche Art & Architecture tours Berlin

I stumbled across this very cool site/concept as I was location searching for my husband and my shamanic wedding party venue (of all things!). Niche are a group of 3 lovely German women who lead tours of art or architecture, available in several languages, around this fascinating city of Berlin. What a wonderful idea and I will certainly take one in the autumn when the summer festivities cool down on my agenda.

Olafur Eliasson fog rooms

Yesterday I finished my little cultural catch-up with the Frida Kahlo retrospective and Olafur Eliasson's first Berlin solo show at the Martin Gropius Bau.

I was moved most by Olafur Eliasson's fog rooms which need to be experienced for their pure foggy joy. Always one for a sensory adventure, they were the works that I enjoyed due to their interactive nature - to bathe in coloured fog felt beautiful to me.

Frida Kahlo's work has always interested me for its symbolism and strong female honesty and vulnerability. To see so much of it in one place was a treat indeed! The heaviness of her story was palpable and I admit, I was relieved to have left the Eliasson work until last on my long afternoon at the museum.

Dysfashional

On Thursday night I went to the opening of the Dysfashional exhibition, formerly shown in Luxembourg and Paris, at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in the beautiful Tiergarten of Berlin. It showcases non-clothing and conceptual work from such big names in fashion as Maison Martin Margiela, Bless, Bernard Wilhelm, Hussein Chalayan, amongst several others, and then a special installation Bodies in Motion by students from fashion schools in Paris (Institut Français de la Mode) and Berlin (ESMOD).

I loved the installations by Bernard Willhelm & Christophe Hamaide-Pierson (very cheeky penis pictures as fashion magazine covers) and the artificial hair totems called "Babylone" by Justin Morin & Billie Mertens. I am so excited at the moment by work that makes me laugh out loud and is full of fun and cheek!

Mimi Antique Textiles & Dress

I love this city for its endless treasures tucked in side streets, and so I say one must discover Berlin by bike. I was riding past this beautiful little Schöneberg boutique for antique clothing called Mimi today, and had to stop for a peep. It is filled with a serious step-back-in-time collection of clothing which is commonly sought after by film and theatre people, including the likes of Quentin Tarrantino for Inglorious Bastards, for example...

They sew clothing & accessories from historical models, buy, sell and hire costumes, wedding clothing & vintage clothing.

Goltzstrasse 5, 10781 Berlin Schöneberg
Open Mon-Fri: 12.00-19.00
Sat: 11.00-16.00

Salonkatzen

The other day I was showing my mother and aunt around my old 'hood of Prenzlauerberg, and I finally (after 2 years of eyeing it!) went into a cute little boudoir of lingerie delights for the inner sex kitten... Called Miau Miau (dessous) and Chat Noir (Mode), it is beautifully decked out inside to make you feel like a pampered queen. Sexy lingerie, slips and accessories abound - definitely worth a peep.

Idee

I have found heaven on Earth and it's close to my new home over West!!

Idee is the luxury department store KaDeWe's creative and craft market, filled with every imaginable thing you could possibly need to make whatever you can dream up. It reminds me of a smaller exclusively craft version of Tokyu Hands, (amazing department store for all things do-it-yourself in Tokyo).

How could I have not known about this place before now? Wonderfully exciting.

Boon Get Well Soon masks

I bought mine a few years ago in Paris at a Japanese fair. Recently I brought it out to amuse my German classmates as I has a cold... These clever, funny Get Well Soon masks are irresistable! Designed by Studio Samira Boon, an Amsterdam and Tokyo-based product, textile and interior design studio.

from the tongue

I am delighted to be one of many artists showing in Joetta Maue's exhibition from the tongue, showcasing contemporary works on paper and fibre art using text, opening on 24th June 2010 at Lotus Gallery Space, 34 North Moore St, Tribeca, NY, New York.

Please drop in if you live in NY between 8-10pm on the Thursday 24th June for the opening. The show runs until 6 August, which gives you plenty of time to visit it once or twice, or even thrice!

I cannot make it this time for the opening due to my imminent wedding and moving house, but I will most definitely be there in spirit and my glove works will be proudly representing me there, and oh so happy to be travelling across the Atlantic!

Eva Blume

Our gorgeous friend Eva, with smiling eyes, is doing our wedding flowers. She has a tiny Blumen Laden (florist shop) called Eva Blume in the hip and groovy Graefekiez in Kreuzberg. As flowers are living things, you can visit her to see them (no pics on her homepage).

Eva's flowers are lovingly and artistically combined into posies, bunches of take home flowers or potted creations.

Touch wood rings

our rings are African Blackwood outside and lined with greyed Maple. The rings pictured below are examples of other possibilites amongst many!


Being true nature sprites, my husband-to-be and I chose to have beautiful wooden wedding rings (top picture) handcrafted by David Finch in Canada. He and his charming wife Nicola run Touch Wood Rings and live in a natural oasis where they are really careful to tread lightly on the Earth.

We are thrilled with our rings which are acclimatising to German air temperature at the moment from their flight over the seas, before the big day.

For the warmth and beauty of wood, and for those willing to care for their rings like they will their marriage, these are a beautiful option for an alternative wedding ring... There are many woods to choose from and inlays are possible too.
http://www.warmthofwood.blogspot.com/

Jacks Beauty Department

Situated in the heart of hip Prenzlauerberg is the gorgeous haven Jacks Beauty Department. The very lovely, down-to-earth (unscary for a fairly non-makeup woman like me) makeup artist Miriam Jacks will make me look my best for the big day. She's the owner of this beautifully decked out and stocked treasure trove for beauty products.

As you enter her boutique there is a "Lash Bar" with the most divine selection of falsies I've ever seen! Everything is selected for its quality, gorgeousness and practicality. And I do love the magazine cutout wallpaper she has lovingly put on the walls. Pure chic and a playground definitely worth checking out!

Roeckl Gloves

Blogging has been lower on the to-do list of late due to my impending wedding, but I can't help wanting to share some of the treasures that will play a part in the big day/s.

Roeckl is a very well-respected German glove brand - a family business dating back to 1839 when Jakob Roekl had a vision "to make the finest gloves possible". Today it's run by sixth generation Roeckl family member Annette Roeckl (pictured).

The leathers used are divine and the designs range from absolutely classic to contemporary beauty and sexiness, with stunning attention to detail. I have splurged on a pair of cuffs for my wedding and will also enjoy wearing them after the wedding day.

Ladies and Gents, get your gloves on!

Word Play

I just discovered this forward-thinking Berlin-based language school, Word Play, founded and owned by Adrian Iselin (pictured). Word Play is committed to ecological, sustainable living and teaching the English language to people & children from all backgrounds here in Germany. They run Eco Camps in English to get kids back into nature and away from computer screens, where let's face it, many of us spend more and more time these days!

This really is the future to me, companies that think like this and have as their goal: togetherness, inclusive communication, ecological awareness and fun to boot! What a great example to follow.

Bonscheladen Hamburg

After a recent little trip to Hamburg, where I feel very nostalgic for Sydney, it being a fellow port city, we came back full of cold sea air and a few treasures too...

We stumbled on this artisanal Bonbon shop Bonscheladen, in the charming Ottensen district, and watched fresh deliciousness being made before our very eyes. To suck on a warm, freshly-made bonbon is quite a treat for the tastebuds, let me tell you.

Roderik Henderson

Last night my friend Sabine and I went to the Sony World Photography Awards here, and saw a selection of winners from 2009. One of the photographers work we fell in love with was that of Dutchman Roderik Henderson.

On show were only these two of his award-winning series "Transvoid", a series of people waiting in their cars where he lived in remote British Columbia Canada. They are exquisitely intimate and nostalgic somehow, the gleam of an elderly lady's silver tooth in the moody light, fixing one portrait for me with the final perfect touch.